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Government commits GH¢200 million to tackle flooding

By
Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA

Accra, May 14, GNA - The Government has
committed GH¢200 million to
address the perennial flooding challenge across the country to be used for
desilting/excavation and construction works under the National Emergency Flood
Control Works.

The Ministry of Finance initially approved
GH¢5,500,000.00 for desilting/excavation works and later approved GH¢194,500,000.00
for construction works on May 22 and July 27, last year.

Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, the Minister of Works
and Housing, said this at the Meet-the-Press series in Accra on Tuesday to
update the public on measures government has instituted to bridge the housing
deficit, tackle the bad drainage system and prevent coastal erosion.

“This is the first time the Government of
Ghana has committed itself in the sum of GH¢200,000,000 to addressing the
mocking national issue of flooding,” he said.

“In comparison, the previous government, in
2015, committed a paltry sum of GH¢17,136,342 and GH¢11,802,718 in 2016, which
are by every measure a drop in the mighty ocean.”

Mr Atta Akyea said the Entity Tender
Committee (ETC) gave approval for the award of contracts to desilt and excavate
works on October 24, 2018, December 10, 2018, January 30, 2019 and April 17,
2019, respectively, adding that some desilting works had been completed while a
few others are ongoing.

The Minister said the Public Procurement
Authority (PPA) approved the contracts and used Restricted Tendering Method,
which required at least three shortlisted companies aimed at minimising
sole-sourcing of contracts.

The Minister said all the relevant
documentation and company profile were submitted to the Hydrological Services
Department on September 4, 2018 and September 7, 2018 respectively for due
diligence before forwarding to the PPA for approval.

In accordance with the specific instructions
of the Finance Ministry, Mr Atta Akyea said his Ministry did not provide
advance mobilisation to the contractors for the construction works.

However, due to the huge capital outlays
that were required to execute the projects, most of the contractors were still
mobilising funds for the execution, which was causing delays.

Mr Atta Akyea, therefore, expressed belief
that considering the emergency nature of the projects, the Finance Ministry
should issue advance mobilisation to the contractors to facilitate the early
completion of construction works since it lay within its remit.